Flammability testing apparatus



y 7, 1963 c. c. WHITE, JR., m1 3,088,309

FLAMMABILITY TESTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT L. AMSLER CLYDE 6. WHITE, JR.

ATTORNEY y 1963 c. c. WHlTE, JR, ETA]. 3,088,309

FLANMABILITY TESTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS a 3 ROBERT L. AMSL ER 6' BY CLYDE C.WH/TE, .mz'

MM MJL? ATTORNEY 3,088,309 LAMMABHJITY TESTlNG APPARE TU Clyde C. White, J12, Decatur, Ala., and Robert L. Amsler,

Macon, Ga, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Monsanto Chemical Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,6tl1 9 Claims. (C1. 73-15) This invention relates to flammability testing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for testing flammability of carpeting material.

In past practice, there has been no apparatus or procedure tor uniformly testing flammability of carpeting material. The usual test has been to drop a lighted match onto the material, allow the match to burn, and then examine the material. The pile of the carpeting material is examined to determine the length of burn along each pile beneath the match. One of the major disadvantages of this method of testing flammability of carpeting material is that there is no uniformity from one test to another. For example, the burning temperature is not consistent, the distance the flame is applied across the carpeting material is not uniform, and the time interval in which the flame is applied to a given point on the carpeting material is not consistent from one test to another. With this problem in mind, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for uniformly testing the flammability of carpeting material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for applying a flame to a material for testing the flammability of the material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for applying a flame to a patch of carpeting material and for traversing the flame across the patch at a predetermined speed and for a predetermined distance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic device for uniformly testing the flammability of carpeting material by applying a flame to the material and moving the flame across the material at a predetermined rate and for a predetermined distance.

One embodiment of this invention contemplates a device having a table adjustable in height for supporting a patch of carpeting material and also having a mechanism for applying a flame to the patch of carpeting material, traversing the flame across the carpet at a predetermined speed and for a predetermined distance and then elevating the flame away from the carpet. The carpet is then inspected to determine the extent of the burning.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention showing the general layout of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing a cam for elevating a table which supports a patch of carpeting material to be tested;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing the mechanism which applies the flame to the patch of carpet; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of a circuit utilized to control the apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown a base 11 supporting a plurality of vertical guide rods 12 upon which are slidably mounted sleeves 13 secured to a table 15 which is provided for supporting a patch 16 of carpeting material to be tested. A pair of cams 19 secured to a rod 20 engage the lower surface of the table 15 for supporting and providing a vertical adjustment of the position of the table 15. The rod 26 is mounted on brackets 21 secured to the base 1-1 and has attached thereto a crank 23. The crank 23 is provided with a springassess Patented May '7, 1953 loaded plunger 24 which is adapted to enter one of a plurality of holes 25 in a plate 26 secured to a wall or cabinet 23 attached to the base .11, the holes 25 being arranged in a circle concentric with the rod 26. A knurled handle 29 attached to the plunger 24 is provided for permitting a withdrawal of the plunger 24 from the hole 25 so that the operator can move the crank 23 to rotate the rod 20 and thereby move the cams 19 to change the elevation of the table 15 supporting the patch 16 of carpeting to be tested.

A carriage 3t slidably mounted on guide rods 31 attached to the cabinet 28 is provided for supporting that part of the device which applies the flame to the carpeting 16 to be tested. A bracket 34 secured to the carriage 3i pivotally supports a lever 35 having attached to one end thereof a rod 38 which extends across the patch 16 and carries a bifurcated block 39. A set screw 42 threaded through the block 39 is provided for locking the block 39 to the rod 38 in whatever position may be desirable.

A nozzle 45, which may be a hypodermic needle of a well-known type, extends through an aperture in the block 39 for directing a flame downward onto the patch 16 of carpeting material. A hose 46 attached to the upper end of the needle 45 is connected to a convenient source 43 of gas, the gas being ignited at the tip of the nozzle or needle 45 to produce a flame for testing the carpet. A set screw 47 threaded into the block 39 and engaging the needle 45 is provided for retaining the needle 45 in a desired position in the block 39.

The opposite end of the lever 35 is pinned to a piston rod 50 of an air cylinder 51 secured to a bracket 52 attached to the carriage 30. The purpose of the air cylinder 51, which is connected to an air source 55 (FIGURE 2) through a hose 56, is to pivot the lever 35 to raise and lower the block 39 to move the flame into and out of contact with the patch 16 of carpeting material. The air cylinder 51 is provided with a return spring (not shown) which raises the rod 5%} to pivot the lever 35 counterclockwise and thereby lower the flame into contact with the patch 16. Thus, when the air cylinder 51 is actuated, the lever 35 is held in such a position that the flame is out of contact with the patch 16.

A motor mounted on the base 11 drives a threaded shaft 61 which extends through the carriage 30 for moving the carriage and traversing the flame across the patch 16 at a predetermined speed. The motor 6% may be reversed to reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft 61, and consequently, the direction of traverse of the carriage 3t)- and the flame.

The circuit shown in FTGURE 2 is provided for controlling the testing apparatus. A switch is manually closed to connect a solenoid valve 71 to a power supply 72 through closed contactors 75 and 76. The energized solenoid valve 71 permits compressed air to flow into the cylinder 51, thereby pivoting the lever 35 clockwise to raise the block 39 carrying the needle or nozzle 45. A valve (not shown) at the gas supply is opened to permit gas to flow through the needle 45. The operator then ignites the gas flowing from the needle while the needle is held in this raised position.

A forward-reverse switch contactor 8% is then moved by the operator to engage a contact 81 or a contact 52, either of which will energize the motor 60 for moving the carriage 30 to traverse the flame across the patch 16. Closure of the contactor 8t? with the contact 81 applies power to the motor 60 in such a manner that the carriage 30 is moved in one direction. Conversely, closure of the contactor 8th with the contact 82 causes the carriage 30 to be driven in the opposite direction.

Operation of the contactor 31 also causes the flame to be lowered into contact with the patch 16, simultaneously with the starting of the traversing of the carriage. Closure of the contactor 8%) with the contact 81 energizes a relay 85 which opens the contactor 75 to deenergize the solenoid valve 71, thereby permitting the return spring in the air cylinder 51 to lift the rod 50 and lower the block 35. Closure of the contactor 80 with the contact 82 energizes a relay 86 which opens the contactor 76 to deenergize the solenoid valve 71. In this manner, closure of the switch contactor 8% lowers the flame into contact with the patch 16 and simultaneously begins the traverse of the flame.

The motor 60 is a part of a conventional, commercially available driving unit 90 which is provided with a pair of limit switches 1 and 92 (FIGURE 4) which are adapted to stop the motor 60 and raise the flame after the carriage 30 has been traversed ttor a predetermined distance. A lug 5 (FIGURE 4) threadedly attached to the shaft 61 is adapted to engage and open the limit switches 91 and 92, the lug 95 traveling along the rotating shaft 61 until one of the switches 91 or W. is opened to deenergize the motor 69 and the energized relay 85 or 86. This stops the motor 6t and closes the contactor 75 or 76 to again energize the solenoid valve 71.

Energization of the solenoid valve 71 applies compressed air to the cylinder 51 to pivot the lever 35 and elevate the flame to a position out of contact with the patch '16. Thus, opening of the switch 91 Or 92 by the lug 95 stops the traversing of the flame and simultaneously elevates the flame.

Movement of the switch contactor 80 to engage the other contact, after the lug 95 has opened one of the limit switches, will cause the flame to be lowered and traversed until the lug opens the other limit switch. The construction and mounting of the limit switches 91 and 92 is such that the distance between the switches may be varied to vary the distance that the flame is traversed across the patch 16, this being conventional.

It is to be understood that, while only one embodiment has been shown, this embodiment may be modified and many other embodiments may be contemplated vvithout departing trom .the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for testing flammability of a fabric, comprising a base, means on the base for supporting a [fabric to be tested, means on the base for applying heat to the fabric at a location thereon, means on the base for moving the heat applying means to traverse said location across the fabric at a predetermined rate, and means for moving the heat applying means away from the fabric after said heat applying means has been traversed a predetermined distance.

2. A device for testing flammability of a fabric, comprising a base, means on the base for supporting a fabric to be tested, means movably mounted on the base for applying a flame to the fabric, means on the base for moving the flame applying means to traverse said flame across the fabric, and means on the base for actuating the flame applying means to withdraw the flame from the fabric after said fabric has been traversed a predetermined distance.

3. A device for testing flammability of carpeting material, comprising a base, a table mounted on the base for supporting a patch of carpeting material to be tested, a carriage movably mounted on the base, means on the carriage for applying a flame to the patch, saidmeans being movably mounted on the carriage in such a manner that the flame is movable into and out of contact with said patch, means on the base for moving the carriage to traverse the flame across the patch, and means on the carriage for raising and lowering the flame applying means.

4. A device for testing flammability of carpeting material, comprising a base, a table mounted on the base for supporting a patch of carpeting material, a carriage movably mounted on the base, means on the carriage for applying a flame to the patch, said flame applying means being movable vertically on the carriage to elevate the flame away from the patch, means on the carriage for raising and lowerin the flame applying means, means on the base for moving the carriage to traverse the flame across the patch, and control means for simultaneously actuating said raising and lowering means and said carriage moving means.

5. A device for testing flammability of a fabric, comprising a base, a table mounted on the base for movement in a vertical direction, a rod rotatably supported between the base and the table, a pair of cams secured to the rod for engaging and supporting the table, a handle secured to the rod for rotating the cams to raise and lower the table, a plate supported by the :base and having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle concentric with the rod, a spring-loaded plunger mounted on the handle for entering one of the apertures in the plate for holding the rod and the cams in an adjusted position, a pair of guide rods mounted on the base, a carriage slidably mounted on the guide rods, a lever pivotally mounted on the carriage, a rod secured to one end of the lever, a block adjustably attached to the rod, a nozzle carried by the block for directing a stream of gas onto the patch of fabric supported on the table, a fluid cylinder mounted on the carriage and connected to the other end of the lever for pivoting said lever to raise and lower the block, a threaded shaft rotatably mounted on the base and threadedly connected to the carriage, a motor mounted on the base for rotating the threaded shaft to move the carriage and thereby traverse the nozzle across the patch of fabric, a supply of fluid connected to the cylinder, a source of gas connected to the nozzle, and a circuit for controlling the device in such a manner that the nozzle is lowered toward the fabric and the carriage is traversed a predetermined distance with the nozzle in a lowered position.

6. A device for testing flammability of a material, comprising a base, means on the base for supporting a material to be tested, means on the base for applying heat to the material at a predetermined point thereon, means on the base for moving the heat applying means to move said point across said material at a predetermined speed, and means for Withdrawing the heat applying means ctrom the material after said heat applying means has been moved a predetermined distance along said material.

'7. An apparatus for testing the heat resistant characteristics of a material, comprising a base, means on the base for supporting said material in a predetermined plane, guide means on the base parallel to said plane, a carriage movably mounted on the guide means, heat applying means mounted on the carriage and movable from an inoperative position away from the material to an operative position in close proximity to the material, actuating means on the carriage for moving the heat applying means from one of said positions to the other, means on the base for moving the carriage to move the heat applying means along the material, and control means for signalling the actuating means and the carriage moving means for simultaneously moving the heat applying means into operative position and commencing said movement of said carriage and for then signalling the actuating means to move the heat applying means to said inoperative position after the carriage has been moved a predetermined distance.

8. An apparatus for testing the resistance of a material to a flame, comprising a base; meanson the base for supporting the material to be tested; flame carrying means movably mounted on the base for travel along a path past .the material to be tested; said flame carrying means 850 being movable laterally out of said path away from the material; and control means connected to the flame carrying means for moving said flame carrying means laterally into said path, moving said flame carrying means along 5 6 the path for a predetermined distance and then moving moving the carriage for a predetermined distance and said flame carrying means laterally out of said path. then moving said heat applying means into said inopera- 9. An apparatus for applying heat to an article; comtive position. prising a base; means on the base for supporting the article; guide means on the s parallel to a Surface of 5 References Cited in the file of this patent the article to be heated; heat applying means mounted on the carriage and movable from an inoperative position UNITED STATES PATENTS away from the fabric to an operative position in close 2,566,338 Kime Sept. 4, 1951 proximity .to said fabric; and control means for moving 2,838,427 Pugh June 10, 1958 the heat applying means into said operative position, 10 2,895,327 Monego et a1 July 21,1959 

1. A DEVICE FOR TESTING FLAMMABILITY OF A FABRIC, COMPRISING A BASE, MEANS ON THE BASE FOR SUPPORTING A FABRIC TO BE TESTED, MEANS ON THE BASE FOR APPLYING HEAT TO THE FABRIC AT A LOCATION THEREON, MEANS ON THE BASE FOR MOVING THE HEAT APPLYING MEANS TO TRANSVERSE SAID LOCATION ACROSS THE FABRIC AT A PREDETERMINED RATE, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE HEAT APPLYING MEANS AWAY FROM THE FABRIC AFTER SAID HEAT APPLYING MEANS HAS BEEN TRAVERSED PREDETERMINED DISTANCE. 